Surveys can serve a very important function in the classroom. In the past, though, surveys were labor intensive to set up, tabulate and interpret. Technology is opening a whole new avenue for educational strategy development when there is quick and easy access to computers in the classroom. In a sense, the use of clickers in classrooms is a type of survey. Responses do not have to be as immediate as a clicker provides to still be useful, however.
Surveys collect data, usually in an anonymous fashion - although a few teachers have tried to use the surveys as a testing device by rigging identifiers with responses. Probably the most common use of anonymous response surveys is to assess where a class is with comprehension of the material at hand. There are other times when a vote on issues, or student preferences can be determined using a survey. Use of a survey is a means to reinforce student centered development of educational goals and objectives.
SurveyMonkey (http://www.surveymonkey.com) has been the long time leader for many in education, although in the free mode one is limited to 10 questions. Find SurveyMonkey tutorials here (http://help.surveymonkey.com/app/tutorials/categorylist/search/1).
Google Docs: Form promises to be widely adopted, as it is part of the Google Docs suite. Here is a video on how to use Forms. It appears Google Docs: Form may be more versatile than SurveyMonkey, if for no other reason than being able to go beyond the 10 question limit SurveyMonkey imposes for free use.
Zoho Polls is new to me, but part of the Zoho Suite of apps that makes it a contender to parallel Google Docs: Form for those using the Zoho Suite instead of Google. A screencast tutorial for Zoho Polls can be found here (http://flash.screeniac.com/zohopoll/zohopoll.html?TB_iframe=true&height=590&width=1050). A quick look at Zoho Polls suggests they may be really limited.
Performance Record - Carefully examine two survey apps - Google Docs: Form should be one of the two (unless you are going to China) and at least one other app to make two. - Choose one to set up a small survey. Send it to several of your classmates so that you will have a chance to see how the reporting features work. - Send me an email discussing your comparison of the two apps you investigated, along with a link to the poll you set up.
Surveys collect data, usually in an anonymous fashion - although a few teachers have tried to use the surveys as a testing device by rigging identifiers with responses. Probably the most common use of anonymous response surveys is to assess where a class is with comprehension of the material at hand. There are other times when a vote on issues, or student preferences can be determined using a survey. Use of a survey is a means to reinforce student centered development of educational goals and objectives.
SurveyMonkey (http://www.surveymonkey.com) has been the long time leader for many in education, although in the free mode one is limited to 10 questions. Find SurveyMonkey tutorials here (http://help.surveymonkey.com/app/tutorials/categorylist/search/1).
Google Docs: Form promises to be widely adopted, as it is part of the Google Docs suite. Here is a video on how to use Forms. It appears Google Docs: Form may be more versatile than SurveyMonkey, if for no other reason than being able to go beyond the 10 question limit SurveyMonkey imposes for free use.
Zoomerang (http://www.zoomerang.com) has been around about as long as SurveyMonkey, but Zoomerang has more of a business tilt, perhaps, and seems less widely used in education. Zoomerang demonstrations and guides are found here (http://zoomerang.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/272/kw/Top3Analyze/r_id/132405)
Zoho Polls is new to me, but part of the Zoho Suite of apps that makes it a contender to parallel Google Docs: Form for those using the Zoho Suite instead of Google. A screencast tutorial for Zoho Polls can be found here (http://flash.screeniac.com/zohopoll/zohopoll.html?TB_iframe=true&height=590&width=1050). A quick look at Zoho Polls suggests they may be really limited.
Performance Record - Carefully examine two survey apps - Google Docs: Form should be one of the two (unless you are going to China) and at least one other app to make two. - Choose one to set up a small survey. Send it to several of your classmates so that you will have a chance to see how the reporting features work. - Send me an email discussing your comparison of the two apps you investigated, along with a link to the poll you set up.